Poll Shows Opposition to Iraq War at All Time High
Americans now view the war in Iraq more negatively than at any time since the war began, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll.
Six in 10 Americans say the United States should have stayed out of Iraq and more than three in four say things are going badly there - including nearly half who say things are going very badly, the poll found.
Still, the majority of Americans support continuing to fund the war as long as the Iraqi government meets specific goals.
President approval ratings remain near the lowest of his more than six years in office. Thirty percent approve of the job he’s doing overall, while 63 percent disapprove. Majorities of those polled disapprove of Mr. Bush’s handling of the situation in Iraq, foreign policy, immigration, the economy and the campaign against terrorism.
More Americans - 72 percent — now say that “generally things in the country are seriously off on the wrong track” than at any time since The Times/CBS News poll began asking the question in 1983. The figure had been in the high 60’s earlier this year.
The poll made clear that the war continues to be the issue Americans are most worried about. Sixty-one percent of the poll’s respondents now say the United States should never have taken military action against Iraq, up from 51 percent in a CBS News poll in April and 58 percent in the same poll in January. Seventy-six percent say things are going badly in the effort to bring stability and order to Iraq, including 47 percent who say they’re going very badly.
The nationwide telephone poll was conducted Friday through Wednesday with 1,125 adults. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.
A majority of the public, 76 percent, including a majority of Republicans, say the additional troops sent to Iraq this year by Mr. Bush have either had no impact or are making things worse in Iraq. Twenty percent think the increase is improving the situation in Iraq.
A majority of Americans continue to support a timetable for withdrawal. Sixty-three percent say the United States should set a date for withdrawing troops from Iraq sometime in 2008.
While troops are still there, the overwhelming majority of Americans support continuing to fund the war, though most want to do so with conditions. Thirteen percent want Congress to block all funding for the war. The majority, 69 percent, including 62 percent of Republicans, say Congress should allow funding, but on the condition that the United States sets benchmarks for progress and the Iraqi government meets those goals. Fifteen percent of all respondents want Congress to allow all funding for the war no matter what.
The poll found Americans are more likely to trust the Democratic party than the Republican party to make the right decisions about the war in Iraq. For the first time, more than half of those polled, 51 percent, said the Democratic party is more likely than the Republican party to make the right decisions about the war in Iraq.
More broadly, Americans have a more favorable view of the Democratic party than of the Republican party. Fifty-three percent say they have a favorable opinion of the Democratic party, while 38 percent, have a favorable view of the Republican party. The Republican party has not had a majority positive rating in New York Times/CBS News polls since December 2003.
As for Mr. Bush,. 23 percent approve of his handling of the situation in Iraq, 72 percent disapprove; 25 percent approve of his handling of foreign policy, 66 percent disapprove; and 27 percent approve of his handling of immigration issues, while 60 percent disapprove. On the economy, 38 percent approve of his handling of the issue, and on the campaign against terrorism 40 percent approve, matching his career low on the issue.
Copyright 2007 The New York Times Company
Bush is sinking like a stone, and the Democrats seem intent on tying him around their own necks.
is this good news or bad news? most amerikkkans don’t have a clue what’s really going on in iraq, what’s happening to iraqis, that is. these stats are based on what’s happening to the red white & blue boys.
Jedediah,
I disagree. I think Americans are devastated by the murder of Iraqi civilians. We can’t wash the blood off our hands. Do you think that the Iraqi people are better off with our troops there?
What a waste of time, money and lives. The 23% should be sent to Iraq if they want finish the job.
Bush has said that he doesn’t pay attention to polls. That seems to be true, since he now rules this country like a dictator.
You don’t need to be liked to be a dictator.
Just why the hell should any government–not just the Iraqi’s–anywhere be governed by “benchmarks” imposed unilaterally by the US government? By stressing this condition, the poll reveals 69% of respondents to be every bit as Imperialistic as their government. And we wonder why the Democrats pull the stunts they do.
For the record, I am 100% for the TOTAL rollback of the American Empire to its pre-WW2 borders, with a few adjustments.
I agree with Cosmos. I think most Americans do know what is going on and are digusted with how their country was deceived by the flimflam gang in Washington. I think there are many who are finding antidotes to the sanctimonious septic few. Bush may not pay attention to polls, we do know what it is he does pay attention to, his religious right-wing base that wants to disenfranchise the Christians who don’t believe as they do as well as all non-Christians. In otherwords, in reality, they have an anti-Christiain attitude and thus, in reality, are hypocrites. There are millions who do understand this.
Most Americans do know what is going on. They’re just too busy watching American Idle to care. Until the citizenry wakes up, nothing will happen to bring about change - and the signs are, they’re in a very deep sleep. A third or fourth party might help, though I have my doubts. Clearly, given the candidates, 2008 will produce nothing of significance. Maybe 2012 will - if we still have a democracy in the U.S.
This isn’t even news to Bu$h the inferior.
I also would like to know who the “23%” is. I suspect it is a lot of big business who want all the illegals they can get and Bush is going to see to it that they get them, the ammunition manufacturers, the weapons makers, the guys that manufacture faulty body armor, the oil companies, etc.
I even know a real estate broker who likes Bush — hard to believe anyone who doesn’t benefit directly from his illegal acts and delusions of grandeur (”I’ve got capital, “I’m the decider”) could believe this ego-maniac who can’t even speak English and winks at the Queen of England. What a guy. And he represents us? No, he does not.
When I reflect on what Nixon did to be impeached and what Clinton did to be impeached, the 110th congress has no courage. Bush and his neo-conservaties (all of them) should be removed from office and put on trial.
My representatives in the state of Florida (Martinez, Nelson and Mica) are cool, calm and collected whiffle ball cowards to stand up and stop the war. Shear cowards.
Ron Paul for president.
In the 70’s I began to lose my 60’s idealistic hope for a new tomorrow as Nixon lied and young men died.
Last January hope resurrected as the Democrats took charge of Congress. Again, I truly believed that changes were coming; the war would be ended, the poor would be recognized, health and education needs addressed.
Alas.
If the polls are accurate and most Americans want peace, then we are the ones to make the changes. Forget the Democrats. There must be one Populist or Independent out there that will stand up! There must be someone honest and strong of character who can speak for us.
Most Americans do not know major facts because the media refuses to tell them:
1)As Kucinich said in an hourlong speech yesterday NOT covered by ANY mainstream media I could find this War was about stealing the Iraqi’s oil for the same Multinational Oil companies who have set new records for profits under Bush
2)Billions are being spent for mercenaries being paid over
$100,000 per year while normal combat troops get peanuts
3)Since some months after the Occupation began a majority of Iraqis have wanted the US out of Iraq which was just reiterated by the majority of Iraqi parliament last week supporting an end to the US occupation
4)Bombs DROPPED by our air forces of all types have killed far more Iraqis than suicide car bombs which was documented in the Lancet epidemiological study which found 660,000 Iraqis died due to the War. Most of them random subjects of bombs, shootings at checkpoints, or numerous other assaults by US weapons
It is incumbent on us to call, write, protest the mainstream media coverup of these facts.
For a start you could write or call the NPR ombudsman as they are SUPPOSED to be “non-commercial”
Jorgito Matojo (George W. Bush) is the best example of the “Ugly North American” that I know. Arrogant, obstanent and stupid. He inhabits is own little world and the rest of the universe be damned.
I am tired of paying the blood tax to be part of his empire.
Puerto Rico es y siempre sera un pais antillano y latino americano.
There is only one thing the U S has to fear, and it is not the Iraq or Iran people. It is their self made dictator leader that does not know right from wrong. I don’t believe any election will remove him from office, no matter if the whole population voted against him.
Isn’t it time for church bells to ring across the nation for the innocent , weeping,Iarqi mother with her dead, angelic little girl, bloddied and limbs torn, in her arms? Isn’t it time to shed a tear for the holocaust of millions like her when you go to bed at night?
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE UNITED ON THE WAR BUT DIVIDED ON GAY MARRIAGE GUN CONTROL ETC. This is true amoung those most vihamently opposed to the war as well. No issues of common solidarity among the majority of war opponents like during Vietnam. I would like to see Kucinish and Ron Paul meet, debate, then part of the time disguss how to together they can stop the war, and Paul and Kucinich supporters likewise, get to gether to discuss how they can together end the war while part of the time argue diversive issues.
Richard Kanegis 215-563-2866 PO Box 31913 Phila PA 19104. RichardKanegis@aol.com. I’m the guy that usually argues that bin Laden is winning an overwhelming victory pludging the world into hate.
I was just reading about a US marine found dead after being captured and the subsequent wringing of hands with the statement “I don’t understand God and this war. Why does it takes inocent and good people? “To those whose first thought is to blame God for all the ills in this universe, I tell this… Please leave God out of it. God did not start this war or any other war; it is us humans who always do and cause all the evil in this world. We were “fortunate” to have been given the knowledge of what is right and wrong and then go on to do the wrong thing. We always say “clean up your own mess” So we as a nation and world must clean up and stop blaming God for our mistakes.
If a corrupted Congress refuses to impeach the criminals in the White House, the Constitution gives the people the right to do it themselves however they can.
So Dubya can invade a country based on lies (WMDs in Iraq, falsely connecting Iraq to 9/11), have almost 75 per cent of the American public disagree with him, and still maintain his presidency.
But Bill Clinton gets head from an intern and he’s impeached.
The electorate is fickle as always, and now half of the Americans that voted for Bush (twice) are now back-pedaling on their vote.
I hope that the collective memory of the voting population remembers the Bush years as dark days in American history–From now on, DO NOT vote for Bible-thumping, filthy rich, misguided Republican war hawks to administer foreign and domestic policy for one of the greatest countries in the world!
But nobody’s listening and nobody cares…
We know the media is in trouble, or big decline when the copy editors at the New York Times can’t distinguish between plural and possessive. Check this out: “The figure had been in the high 60’s earlier this year.” It is 60s not 60’s. Maybe they outsourced copy editing to China.
How are we going to do that Suzie when the government is so corrupt. 2008 is already sold to the devil….
http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/interviews/061
WHY DO THEY HATE US SO MUCH?? (the all-time most audacious question asked by supremacist xenophobic Yanks and their Fascist allies)
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Read that question w/ some whining noise added to it for fun!!!
This is a response from a world citizen to the all-time most naive question I have heard/read so much from the so-called analysts, writers, politicians, and hands of IMPERIALISM in your dishonest media.
In your undying, never-ending hatred for Iran and drowned in an ocean of narcissism, you simply have forgotten, or yet better, chosen to forget, the crimes, inhumane policies, arrogant attitudes, and pain inflicted by you “patriotic” psychos on many a nation, including Persians.
Well, the Northern Christian hypocrisy and self-love on one side; its harsh animosity and blood thirst for Iran is something else. It was evident in your clownish, arrogant President’s speeches and now it’s epitomized by the most blatantly hateful, Nazi pieces of propaganda which Goebbels himself would love you for ), there it comes, suck it and swallow it w/ AMERICAN (w/ a thick R the way you like it) pride and xenophobia.
By what I have read from the likes of you in your very “OBJECTIVE” media (no shortage in the ” objective, informed, and bright” nation of yours), you completely epitomize what the monstrous Northern Christian imperialism means to billions of impoverished, victimized, oppressed masses of the world and what it has done for the past several centuries only in order to secure its own filthy interests derived from your selfish, self-indulged, self-centered, egotistic, materialist, and Calvinist lifestyles and worldviews. If and only if you were interested in the truth and facts, you could easily find the answer by reviewing your friends’ list and also crimes’ list for decades or centuries (for those Euro liberals!!). It doesn’t take a genius, does it?
YOU are the epitome of unfairness, injustice, governmental terrorism and bigotry. These are some of the crimes against humanity committed by your patriotic asses all over the planet (the list would be only too long but I mention a few here):
U.S. sponsored coup against democracy in Guatemala in 1954 which resulted in the deaths of over 120,000 Guatemalan peasants by U.S. installed dictatorships over the course of four decades.
U.S. overthrew the governments of the Dominican Republic in 1965 and helped to murder 3,000 people.
1973, the U.S. sponsored a coup in Chile against he democratic government of Salvador Allende and helped to murder another 30,000 people.
1965 the U.S. sponsored a coup in Indonesia that resulted in the murder of over 800,000 people, and the subsequent slaughter in 1975 of over 250,000 innocent people in East Timor by the Indonesian regime with the direct complicity of President Ford and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger
U.S. sponsored terrorist contra war (the World Court declared the U.S. government a war criminal in 1984 for the mining of the harbours) against Nicaragua in the 1980s which resulted in the deaths of over 30,000 innocent people (or as the U.S. government used to call them before the term “collateral damage” was invented–”soft targets”).
U.S. war against the people of El Salvador in the 1980s, which
resulted in the brutal deaths of over 80,000 people, or “soft targets”.
U.S. sponsored terror war against the peoples of southern Africa (especially Angola) that began in the 1970’s and resulted in the deaths and mutilations of over 1,000,000.
U.S. invaded Panama over the Christmas season of 1989 and killed over 5,000 in an attempt to capture George H. Bush’s CIA partner, now turned enemy, Manual Noriega.
U.S. sponsored a brutal coup that resulted in the deaths of over 70,000 Iranians from 1952-1978.
This doesn’t even mention the crimes in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Grenada, Bay of Pigs and before that the support for and direct involvement w/ Batista’s regime in Cuba, the 8-year war against Iran -including chemical weapons usage- by (the former friend!!) Saddam, death squads in Central America, the 5 decades of Israeli crimes in Palestine and Lebanon (the veto policy), the “missing” in Argentina, and of course the “silent coup” in Algeria in 91 (w/ deceitful cooperation from the French bastards) that stopped the FIS from winning the elections thus plunging the country into a civil war for years…………….
We can never forget your crimes or undying sense of self-love and ego that make the Yankees and their NATO/G7 lovers the most detested nations on this planet, perhaps galaxy.
Now kill as many innocent people as you want. LAUNCH, LAUNCH as a bastard called JAMES WOODS declared on JAY LENO. Brag about Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and Beirut bombings. Brag about killing of the innocent family members of Kaddafi, all the countries’ leaders and revolutionaries who had the guts to say no to your Fascist Empire.
It matters not. The U.S. (and the British disgusting colonialism) will go where the Romans, German Nazis, Mongols, and the rest of the arrogant sorry excuses for humanity went. Now celebrate killing Moslems, Nationalists, and Leftists (not to mention nuns and priests), etc. in your never-ending fire of hatred, supremacy and ego.
Unlike many other foreigners, I am not simplistic enough to think you are just the minority and the “rest” are simply decent, nice, culture-loving individuals. The fact is it’s filth like you that votes for the criminals you call leaders (Reagan and Bushes, Blair, Merkel, Harper and Howard come to mind immediately). Also I don’t think, despite the popular belief, you are ignorant or just stupid; I think you know enough and simply choose to ignore because you are the most selfish, inhumane, robotic bastards this planet has seen for a long time. Your sense of “SELECTIVE MEMORY and JUDGMENT” is proof enough.
I think legendary Orwell got it right in this passage from Nineteen Eighty-Four, an account of the ultimate supremacist empire:
“And in the general hardening of outlook that set in . . . practices which had been long abandoned - imprisonment without trial, the use of war prisoners as slaves, public executions, torture to extract confessions . . . and the deportation of whole populations - not only became common again, but were tolerated and even defended by people who considered themselves enlightened and progressive.”
As a reaction to your actions, our (the South) hatred for you could only be compared to the feelings we have against Serbs, Nazis, Genghis Khan and Alexander the Criminal.
THE NEW ROME WILL FALL…… AND ITS FOLLOWERS, FRIENDS, ALLIES AND APOLOGISTS….. WE’LL MAKE SURE OF THAT. DEATH TO THE U.S. and EU!!!
I doubt the Dems have such a sunny approval rating now that they have demonstrated they get no different results than the Republicans when it comes to stopping Bush.
You want to know who is the 23%? Most of my family members - except for my sister. I’ve lived out of the country for most of the last four years. I’ve no intention of ever living in this country again. My family has disowned me. My accountant has threatened to quit because of my decision.
Why would I possibly want to live here? Except for my aging parents, this country has no hold on my heart.
But as long as I am a US citizen, I will do what I can to support impeachment, single-payer health care, a reformed media, a better farm program, global warming awareness, and all of the other myriad issues.
But live here? Why would I possibly want to?